Lindsey Vonn to end five-year retirement and rejoin US ski team aged 40

Lindsey Vonn, the three-time Olympic medalist and four-time World Cup overall champion, announced Thursday that she plans to rejoin the US ski team with hopes of returning to competition this year.

The 40-year-old Minnesota native, who retired in 2019 citing the physical toll from a series of major injuries over the course of her 18-year career, told the New York Times that she had “retired with no intention of coming back”, but was startled to discover that she was pain-free after undergoing a partial right-knee replacement surgery in April.

Vonn retired as the most decorated female ski racer in history with 82 World Cup victories, a mark since eclipsed by compatriot Mikaela Shiffrin. Her decision was influenced by numerous injuries, including severe knee issues that required multiple surgeries.

In recent months, Vonn has been spotted training in various locations, including New Zealand and the Austrian resort of Sölden. These sessions have intensified rumors of her potential return. Vonn shared glimpses of her training on social media, showcasing her progress as she focuses on the speed disciplines of super-G and downhill.

Vonn suggested that she is targeting the World Cup in Beaver Creek, Colorado, next month for her potential first competitive appearance since her retirement.

While she emphasized her need to make consistent progress, Vonn did not rule out making a run for a fifth Olympic apperance at the 2026 Winter Games in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, where Vonn won 12 World Cup races from 2008 through 2018.

“I’ve always enjoyed racing in Cortina and I’ve had a lot of success in Cortina,” she said. “I don’t know what the next few months and the next year and a half hold for me. So I can’t say right now if it’s a possibility.”